The saltwater crocodile,
or "salty," is the largest living reptile in the world. In rare cases,
males can reach lengths of up to 23 feet, although lengths of 13 feet
are average. Females are smaller and do not normally exceed 10 feet. This
crocodile has a large head, a broad, rounded snout, and a heavy set of
jaws lined with cone-shaped teeth. The skin of mature adults is generally
dark, with lighter tan or gray areas and cream-colored bellies.

Saltwater crocodiles are
designed for an aquatic environment, possessing clear eyelids that enable
them to see underwater, flaps of skin that keep water out of their throat
and ears, and webbed rear feet that aid in swimming. Like all reptiles,
salties are cold-blooded. After basking in the sun, they must return to
the water to cool off. A saltwater crocodile will also lie with its mouth
open to release excess heat.

This reptile is the direct
descendent of the archosaurs, an intelligent species of dinosaur that
dominated the earth during the Mesozoic Era. In addition to a large Australian
population, smaller populations exist in China, the Indian sub-continent,
and Southeast Asia. Individuals have been found far from their usual range,
as they are able to travel long distances by sea. This seafaring ability
helps to explain their wide distribution.

These crocodiles are commonly
found in the brackish water around coastal areas and in tidal rivers.
They can also be found in the open sea or inland in freshwater rivers,
swamps, and billabongs. Movement between different habitats occurs seasonally
and as a result of social status. Juveniles raised in freshwater areas
are eventually forced out by dominant adults, who use these areas for
breeding. If unable to establish a territory in a tidal river system,
they may move out to sea, circling the coast in search of another river.

Females generally lay 40
to 60 eggs in mounded nests of mud and plant material. The mother guards
the eggs for about three months. The young crocodile breaks out of its
shell using a small temporary "egg tooth" on its snout. The mother digs
the neonates out of the nest when they start chirping and carries them
to the water in her mouth. The temperature at which the egg is kept determines
the gender of its inhabitant. Eggs kept at 88.8 degrees Fahrenheit will
produce male offspring. Hotter or colder temperatures will produce females.
Only about one percent of the young survive to adulthood, due to predation
both by other species and by territorial male crocodiles, which will kill
and eat juveniles. Crocodiles that survive to adulthood may live as long
as 100 years.

Mature saltwater crocodiles
take a wide variety of prey, including large wading birds, buffalo, domestic
livestock, wild boar, and monkeys. The salty's feeding strategy is to
lie quietly near the water's edge and pounce suddenly on unwary victims.
Although other crocodiles have undeserved reputations as man-eaters, the
saltwater crocodile is actually quite dangerous and will even attack people
in boats. This species is responsible for a number of injuries and deaths
every year.

Although this species was
hunted almost to extinction in the late 1960s, the future of the saltwater
crocodile seems very secure today, given the large populations existing
in Australia and Papua New Guinea. However, it is likely that the salty's
range will be reduced through the elimination of many small populations
elsewhere. Loss of human life has led to animosity towards the species,
making conservation difficult.